Perfect Specific Gravity prior to adding live sand

[Heyitslauren]

What happened??? I mixed my salt and my RO water in my 40 gallon tank. Heated it and left my power head on for a couple days. Specific gravity was perfect. I added live sand and it dropped significantly. I waited for all of it to settle and still so low. What happened?? How do I fix it?? I’ve tried to gradually add in more salt but it’s at 1.019 barely budging.

 

[Big G]

Welcome to R2R
Have you recalibrated your refractometer lately?

 

[Dan I]

I would check refractometer and make sure its calibrated.

 

[SDK]

You're not using one of those dip in hydrometers by any chance, are you? I had a similar problem many years ago until I realized that something was jamming the needle.

I can't think of any other scenario than testing error. Adding substrate cannot lower SG, and adding salt cannot result in unchanged SG....

 

[Heyitslauren]

You're not using one of those dip in hydrometers by any chance, are you? I had a similar problem many years ago until I realized that something was jamming the needle.

I can't think of any other scenario than testing error. Adding substrate cannot lower SG, and adding salt cannot result in unchanged SG....

That’s what I’m thinking too. Something has to be wrong.

 

[Big G]

Get yourself a decent refractometer. Been using this one linked below for a couple of years. Some are made out of cheap plastic - who knew. So this one was well made and has been very accurate. Get a bottle of recalibration fluid to check and adjust your refractometer every so often. It's easy to do.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B005ES6MOQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Heyitslauren]

You're not using one of those dip in hydrometers by any chance, are you? I had a similar problem many years ago until I realized that something was jamming the needle.

I can't think of any other scenario than testing error. Adding substrate cannot lower SG, and adding salt cannot result in unchanged SG....

Thank you for your help I’m going and buying one now.

 

[Heyitslauren]

Get yourself a decent refractometer. Been using this one linked below for a couple of years. Some are made out of cheap plastic - who knew. So this one was well made and has been very accurate. Get a bottle of recalibration fluid to check and adjust your refractometer every so often. It's easy to do.

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B005ES6MOQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thank you I’m buying one now.

 

[Heyitslauren]

Okay so it’s all fixed. Went out bought a refractometer. I think my salt must have been off from the very beginning. Should’ve bought the refractometer in the first place

 

[eggplantparrot]

Okay so it’s all fixed. Went out bought a refractometer. I think my salt must have been off from the very beginning. Should’ve bought the refractometer in the first place

Please also buy refractometer calibration fluid. You would be surprised how much they can change with temperature, humidity and rough handling.

 

[Big G]

Lauren the first and foremost thing we do with our aquariums is manage water quality. Good on you for taking that step toward great quality water for your fish.

 

[eggplantparrot]

Please also buy refractometer calibration fluid. You would be surprised how much they can change with temperature, humidity and rough handling.

I had my salinity rise into the 1.030s because i thought i didnt need to calibrate that often. I now calibrate with every use/day

 

[Heyitslauren]

Please also buy refractometer calibration fluid. You would be surprised how much they can change with temperature, humidity and rough handling.

Ya that’s what someone else mentioned as well. I’m gonna order that online though